Albania in Camping-Car: rental, advice, areas, routes

Would you like to visit Albania on a camper or van? Find all our practical tips in this article!

A country that is still excluded from international tourism for overriding reasons, Albania is a wonderful discovery. The land of eagles offers quite varied landscapes and activities: mountains, dream beaches, archaeological ruins, seaside resorts... It's hard to do more diverse! For adventurers, barders or just those who want to try the adventure, you can also visit Albania by camping-car!

Since the country is small, it is possible to take the time to appreciate each remarkable place or another one that touches us. This article therefore lists all the practical information to allow you to prepare your visit to Albania by camping-car. You will find itineraries ideas, traffic rules to know, the most important camping areas and the best time to visit.

Ideas of itineraries in Albania by motorhome

If the country is not very large, there are many points of interest to do during a stay in Albania on a camping-car. So, the average duration seems to be around 2 weeks . 1 week is a little short and 1 month is made for those who want (really) to take their time. Wanderlix offers a different route for each of these durations.

Every day, the goal is to stop at each stage mentioned or even more if your research leads you to discover a rare pearl. Travel times are indicative and do not take into account any stops for visits or rest. Also they can be very long because some roads are difficult. It is therefore sometimes necessary to redo the same road the next day or to return by Tirana.

Leave a week

Browse Albania in a week is possible. However, you will be a little over time and will not have the opportunity to go to the north.

• Day 1: Tirana – Durrës (38 km, 40 minutes)
• Day 2: Dürres – Karavasta Lagoon – Apollonia Archaeological Park – Vlorë (200 km, 3h20 route)
• Day 3: Vlorë – Dhërmi – Himarë – Saranda – Ksamil (140 km, 3h40 route)
• Day 4: Ksamil – Butrint – Syri i Kaltër – Gjirokäter (87 km, 2h15 ride)
• Day 5: Gjirokäster – Berat (160km, 2h30 ride)
• Day 6: Berat – Elbasan – Pogradec (150 km, 2h45 route)
• Day 7: Pogradec – Tirana (127 km, 2h10 route)

Leave for two weeks

The duration of two weeks is ideal for camping in Albania.

• Day 1: Day in Tirana and Mont Dajti
• Day 2: Tirana – Dürres (38 km, 40 minutes)
• Day 3: Dürres – Karavasta Lagoon – Apollonia Archaeological Park – Vlorë (200 km, 3h20 route)
• Day 4: Vlorë – Dhërmi – Himarë – Saranda – Ksamil (140 km, 3h40 route)
• Day 5: Ksamil – Butrint (5 km, 10 minutes)
• Day 6: Butrint – Syri i Kaltër – Gjirokäster (81 km, 1h35 route)
• Day 7: Gjirokäster – Berat (160km, 2h30 ride)
• Day 8: Berat – Elbasan – Pogradec (150 km, 2h45 route)
• Day 9: Pogradec – Krujë (162 km, 2h45 ride)
• Day 10: Krüje – Parc de Lurë (125 km, 3h30 road)
• Day 11: Parc de Lurë – Valbonë (254 km, 6 heures de route)
• Day 12: Day at Valbonë Park
• Day 13: Valbonë – Shkodër (188 km, 4h20 ride)
• Day 14: Shkodër – Lezhë – Tirana (104 km, 1h50 route)

Leave for a month

For those who have a lot of time and want to explore Albania on a camping-car in the middle, here are ideas of itineraries!

• Day 1: Day in Tirana and Mont Dajti
• Day 2: Tirana – Durrës (38 km, 40 minutes)
• Day 3: Day in Durrës
• Day 4: Durrës – Karavasta Lagoon – Apollonia Archaeological Park – Vlorë (200 km, 3h20 route)
• Day 5: Vlorë – Dhërmi – Gjipe (65 km, 1h45 route)
• Day 6: Gjipe – Himarë – Saranda (69 km, 1h55 route)
• Day 7: Saranda – Ksamil (14 km, 20 minutes)
• Day 8: Day in Ksamil
• Day 9: Ksamil – Butrint (5 km, 10 minutes)
• Day 10: Day around Butrint
• Day 11: Butrint – Syri i Kaltër – Gjirokäster (81 km, 1h35 route)
• Day 12: Gjirokäster – Berat (160km, 2h30 ride)
• Day 13: Berat – Parc de Bredhi Hotovës (213 km, 3h45 route)
• Day 14: Parc de Bredhi Hotovës – Parc de Prespa (200 km, 5 hours)
• Day 15: Parc de Prespa – Pogradec (43 km, 45 minutes)
• Day 16: Day around Ohrid Lake
• Day 17: Pogradec – Shebenik-Jabllanicë Park (83 km, 2 hours)
• Day 18: Shebenik-Jabllanicë Park – Krujë (123 km, 2h45 route)
• Day 19: Krüje – Parc de Lurë (125 km, 3h30 ride)
• Day 20: Day at Lurë Park
• Day 21: Lüre Park – Kukës (123 km, 3h20 ride)
• Day 22: Kukës – Valbonë (121 km, 2h40 road)
• Day 23: Day at Valbonë National Park
• Day 24: Valbonë – Shköder (188 km, 4h20 ride)
• Day 25: Day in Shköder
• Day 26: Shköder – Theth (76 km, 2h20 ride)
• Day 27: Day at Theth National Park
• Day 28: Theth – Velipojë (107 km, 2h40 ride)
• Day 29: Velipojë – Lezhë (56 km, 55 minutes)
• Day 30: Lezhë – Cap de Rodon – Tirana (147 km, 3h05 route).

What budget to travel by motorhome in Albania?

Renting a motorhome in Albania can be complex. Indeed, few agencies offer this service . So we have to go ahead or find alternative solutions such as renting in Montenegro even in France. In this part, we will only deal with Albania. Take the example of the best-known agency for this type of rental: Petani Agency .

The rental can be carried out online and it is possible to request delivery at the airport. The prices are identical to the year: 90 € per day, with optional insurance all included to 20 € a day. All "comfort" options are paid and at the daily rate: extra driver for 2 € , unlimited mileage 3 € , GPS for 5 € ... In our calculation we include the second driver and the unlimited mileage .

A priori, you will not go to Kosovo, so there is no toll to pay. Also there are many free parking lots, so we consider that you will have nothing to pay on this point, out of paid camping areas that you have chosen for more comfort. For these, we add 50 € parking per week but note that it is optional. As for gasoline, it depends a lot on the driver. So we're gonna give a high average.

Average budget for 1 week:

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 770 €
• Essence + toll : 90 €
• Parking : 50 €
• Total: 910 €

Average budget for 2 weeks:

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 1 440 €
• Essence + toll : 180 €
• Parking : 100 €
• Total: 1 720 €

Average budget for 1 month:

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 2 880 €
• Essence + toll : 360
• Parking : 200 €
• Total: 3 440 €

Driving in Albania by motorhome: traffic rules to know

What documents do you have on board?

Although Albania is not a Member State of the European Union, you do not have to make too much effort on the documents side.

First, the French driving licence is accepted. It is therefore unnecessary to request an international permit, unless you have the cardboard version of your driver's license. Some police officers don’t like that old license so it’s better to prevent than cure. Also you must have the proper permit, in general C1E but not always, see our dedicated article. Finally, it is necessary to prove that the technical inspection is up-to-date .

To be able to circulate in Albania by camping-car, it is mandatory to have it International Insurance Card "green card". You can also purchase this card from your French insurer or directly to Albania, from an agency or individual.

What are the speed limits?

The speed limits are quite strict in Albania, even if not respected:

• 40 km/h in agglomeration;

• 80 km/h for off-farm roads;

• 90 km/h for "blue" highways;

• 110 km/h for "green" highways.

If you drag a trailer or your motorhome weighs more than 3.5 tonnes, the limitation is lowered 20 km/h On green highways.

Fuel

There are gas stations throughout Albania. They are more spaced on small roads.

On the price side, it is in general 30% cheaper than in France . So, when the liter is at 1,40 € in France, it is around 1,10 € Albania.

Alcohol flying

Zero tolerance in Albania: no milligram in the blood is allowed . We can say that in Albania, the one who drives, it is really the one who doesn’t drink!

Motorway to Albania: what price for your motorhome category?

The blue highways correspond to our central full-land roads in France. So they are not really talking about the highways.

There are only three “green” highways in Albania:

• Dürres in Morinë on the Kosovar border, highway along the Adriatic coast;

• Fier – Vlorë

• Tirana – Elbasan.

Only a section of the first highway, close to the Kosovare border, is paid. Price: 5 € .

Other information about driving in Albania by camping-car

♪ traffic lights shall be light from day to night . The other rules are identical to those of the French road code.

However, two negative points should be noted. On the one hand, the conduct of the premises may sometimes be very dangerous especially on small roads. On the other hand, if important roads are in good condition, it is not really the case of secondary roads. Some are in a catastrophic state or are not tarnished, especially in the east.

Enjoy, while being careful!

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Would you like to visit Albania in motorhome, but you don’t have a vehicle? Now it is very simple to rent these vehicles between individuals, especially in France. Many platforms allow this type of rental, online, as Yescapa For example.

How does it work?

• At first, you have to choose the motorhome in your city (For example Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
• Be careful choose unlimited mileage, to check the number of beds available and if travel abroad is possible.
• Do your work online rental request and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) to the owner.
• If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner's contact information to organize a First meeting.
• Day J, present your driver's license and pour bail.
• One. status of premises is executed and a lease is signed between the two parties. You'll have to sign it as soon as you get back from Montenegro, and once done, the tour is played!

Camping-car areas in Albania: where to park?

There are many areas available to visit Albania by camping-car. So you have the embarrassment of choice. Examples include: hotel Baron near Tirana or Camper Park Durazzo near Durrës. In general, there are many camping or parking areas near the must-see sites (adriatic coast, Berat, Gjirokäster, shores of Lake Ohrid...).

On the other hand, no northern areas near Valbonë, so you have to make wild camping. Do not hesitate to consult a website or an application like Caramaps to find local areas.

Here are the rules of good conduct to be followed:

• The wild campsite is allowed, provided the environment and private property are respected;
• Avoid parking nearby or inside protected national parks;
• If the land is privatized, the owner can give you permission to camp, for or without payment.

What is the best time to travel by motorhome in Albania?

Albania is easily visited all year but we do not discover the same landscapes.

In winter, you go for the snow to the north and the coast to enjoy the calm of the sea without tourists and sun loungers. In the summer, it’s a bit the opposite: we’re looking for the freshness of the mountain after walking the coast at temperatures that can flirt 40°C.

Unless you want to see the snow, the recommended visit period is between March and June , and September-October . This is the good combination of mild weather and neither too hot nor too cold, and the absence of the majority of tourists.

With all this information, you only need to know when to go to visit Albania on a camping-car!